Events

Tropical Lab 15: Interdependencies

Tropical Lab 15 key visual

Date & Time

Exhibition period: Sat 21 Aug – Sat 16 Oct
Opening hours: 12:00pm – 7:00pm, Mon–Sat (closed on Sun and public holidays)

Location

Praxis Space, Project Space, Brother Joseph McNally Gallery and other locations at LASALLE College of the Arts' McNally Campus

Admission

Free

Type

Exhibition

Since 2005, art students from universities in Bandung, Belgrade, New York, Plymouth, Tokyo, among others, meet each other, work and live together in Singapore as part of Tropical Lab. An experiment in art education and artistic exchanges, this two-week intensive art camp was initiated by Milenko Prvački, former Dean of LASALLE’s Faculty of Fine Arts and current Senior Fellow in the President’s Office.

Impacted by the pandemic, the 15th edition of Tropical Lab takes place under an exhibition format. The title of this edition – Interdependencies – is less thematic and more reflective. It captures the spirit of togetherness, companionship, and resilience that defined all the previous editions of Tropical Lab. While the pandemic touched our existence in many different ways, and made off-screen encounters difficult, it made us all acknowledge our interdependencies as fundamental to art and life.

Twenty-five artists who participated in different editions of the Tropical Lab between 2005 and 2019 were nominated by faculty from partner universities. The artists have generously shared their recent work and initiated new projects, and their enthusiastic response to the invitation reflects the quality of the experience they once had in Singapore.

A screengrab of an inflight map, printed on tarp levitates above the ground in a shelter-like structure. Two paintings of blown-up ID photos convey the process of othering immigrants often experience. A seductive animation moving seamlessly from a North American forest to a tropical rainforest alludes to the global ramifications of multinational companies and their manifold exploitation of resources. An augmented reality app defies physical boundaries and teleports us miles away into an artist's studio. It would be futile to seek a common denominator across all the artworks. The strength of an exhibition such as Tropical Lab derives from various artistic positions, media and contexts of reference.

The exhibition will stretch beyond gallery spaces, highlighting the special relationship Tropical Lab participants had with LASALLE’s campus, which was integral to their exchange, learning and artistic production. Making use of existing infrastructure and within the spirit of interdependence, artworks inserted, for instance in the library or transit areas, will co-exist with different activities taking place on LASALLE’s McNally campus.

This exhibition is part of a broader 2021 programme that comprises the launch of the Tropical Lab Archive, and the publication of ISSUE 10 dedicated to the Tropical Lab history.

Artists: Ali Van, Anne-Laure Franchette, Ben Dunn, B. Neimeth, Brooke Stamp, Christine Rebet, Danielle Dean, Di Liu, Duy Hoang, Hariyo Seno Agus Subagyo, Homa Shojaie, James Jack, James Tapsell-Kururang, James Yakimicki, JP Mot, Kay Mei Ling Beadman, Laura Hopes, Marko Stankovic, Pheng Guan Lee, Rattana Salee, Sarah Walker, Shuo Yin, Tim Bailey, Tromarama, Waret Khunacharoensap

Curated by Anca Rujoiu

Image: Visual identity by Milenko Prvački in collaboration with C+C&Co
 



Safety advisory

Kindly refrain from attending the event if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 including a fever, runny nose and sore throat.

All visitors entering the College will be required to wear masks at all times and to undergo mandatory temperature screening and check-in using the SafeEntry system.

Each gallery has a maximum capacity at any one time including the staff on duty. Keep at least 1 metre distance from others at all times. Read more about our enhanced Safe Management Measures at https://www.lasalle.edu.sg/safe-management-measures. We seek your understanding and look forward to welcoming you to the College.